About Michael J. Diver

Michael Diver has built a national practice advising public companies, financial services firms and individuals in securities litigation and regulatory investigations. In these high-stakes matters, Michael's past experience as a branch chief in the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gives him valuable perspective, and he has a long track record of achieving very favorable results for his clients.

As an Enforcement Division branch chief, Michael managed a team of SEC enforcement attorneys in investigating and prosecuting securities law violations, including matters involving complex financial fraud, market manipulation, insider trading and violations of broker-dealer, investment adviser and investment company regulations.

Applying his government experience in private practice, Michael represents public companies, financial institutions and their individual officers and directors in regulatory matters and civil litigation. With over 20 years of experience, Michael is adept at devising effective defense strategies to address legal risks across a broad spectrum of circumstances. He is often called upon to defend clients that are facing concurrent private actions and regulatory investigations, and to defend against claims involving complex legal or compliance issues.

In addition to handling investigations and litigation, he also regularly advises clients in connection with corporate governance matters, shareholder claims, financial restatements, internal investigations and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) and stock exchange inquiries.

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"Michael is client-centric and service-oriented. He is a former SEC lawyer, so he has great experience, is very well known and knows the industry." "Mike is a practical and experienced practitioner."

Chambers USA 2026
(Illinois, Litigation: Securities) survey response

Practice Focus

  • Securities litigation and enforcement
  • Financial services litigation
  • White-collar and internal investigations
  • Insider trading
  • Broker-dealer regulation
  • Asset management
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

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Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • Lewis & Clark Law School, JD
  • Bucknell University, BA
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Professional & Community Involvement
  • American Bar Association
  • Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni
  • The Chicago Bar Association
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Benchmark Litigation
    National Practice Area Star, 2022, 2025-2026
  • BTI Client Service All-Stars
    2014
  • Chambers USA
    Securities: Regulation: Enforcement, 2018–2019
    Litigation: Securities, 2019–2026
  • Crain's Chicago Business
    Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys, 2025
  • Securities Docket
    Enforcement Elite, 2024–2025
  • Super Lawyers
    Illinois, 2017–2026
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Next Generation Lawyer, 2019–2020
    Recommended Attorney, 2015–2017, 2020–2024
    Leading Lawyer, 2021–2026
Award Methodologies